Wildcats coach a record breaker
The Patroon Conference win was a good one for the Maple Hill boys’ soccer team Monday and it proved historic for coach Dan Gillespie. So what was Gillespie’s top concern after the Wildcats beat Coxsackie-athens 2-0?
“I had to get home and get supper,” Gillespie said.
There was no desire for any long drawn-out celebration, yet Monday’s victory was the latest in a series of incredible milestones for Gillespie. The win over the Indians provided the veteran mentor career victory No. 658 — No. 1 all-time in the New York state history.
“It means I have been around a long time,” Gillespie said. “It was a good win. We’ve got a lot of work to do, but we’re getting better.”
Gillespie became head coach of the program’s fledgling boys’ soccer team in 1974. He had no soccer background as a player, so Gillespie worked tirelessly to learn the sport and soon was able to convey that knowledge to his players that helped build a small-school dynasty. Gillespie’s squads have earned the Wildcats 20 Section II titles and three state championships.
Several of Gillespie’s best players went on to enjoy excellent college careers and another one, Jaime Schultz, is a currently a relief pitcher with the Tampa Bay Rays.
“I have really been fortunate to have kids that want to work hard and that had really good experiences playing on the JV and modified teams,” Gillespie said.
Huge girls’ volleyball showdown set for Tuesday
Burnt Hills vs. Shenendehowa. Putting those schools together when it comes to volleyball means a great deal.
The area’s two marquee programs are set to renew their Suburban Council rivalry Tuesday night at Burnt Hills.
The Spartans (11-1 overall, 7-0 Suburban Council), ranked No. 2 in the state in Class A, captured their own Cider Classic Tournament Saturday.
“We played pretty well after a nine-day layoff,” Burnt Hills coach Gary Bynon said. “It was good to see where you are after halfway through the season. We look forward to playing a really good Shen team.”
Burnt Hills, winners of 30
consecutive Suburban Council divisional titles and 23 Section II championships (including a current streak of 16 straight), had its incredible 390-match Suburban Council winning streak snapped by Shenendehowa in 2016.
The Plainsmen, a Class AA state finalist in 2017 after capturing their seventh straight sectional title, also defeated the Spartans 3-1 last fall.
Cheney selects Siena
Jack Cheney, who plays soccer and lacrosse at Shaker, has made an oral commitment to play Division I lacrosse at Siena College.
As a sophomore in 2017, Cheney scored 61 goals to help lead the Blue Bison to the program’s first lacrosse sectional title since 2000. He garnered Times Union first team all-star status.
As a junior, Cheney was named to the Times Union second team.
Cheney will be reunited with Shaker teammate Luke Julien, who is a freshman with the Saints.
Rifenberick chooses Columbia
Troy catching star Maddy Rifenberick, the first softball player to ever be named a Times Union large-school first-team all-star as a seventh-grader when she batted .459, made an oral commitment Monday to play at Division I Columbia University of the Ivy League.
Rifenberick garnered her third Times Union first-team selection in 2018 after batting .397 with eight home runs and 23 RBIS for the Flying Horses as a 10th grader.